Al Franken Explains How to Create the Perfect Cover in New Book Trailer

The senator and former 'SNL' castmember explained just how he crafted the precise image for the cover of his latest book, 'Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.'

Al Franken has released a trailer for his latest book, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.

The trailer features the Democratic senator and former SaturdayNightLive castmember sharing insights into his book's cover during a faux behind-the-scenes photo shoot. "They say, 'Don't judge a book by its cover,' " Franken says in voiceover, his speech enunciated in an elegantly bassy low register. "But believe me, people do. Oh yes, they do."

"That's why I knew the cover for AlFranken,GiantoftheSenate by Al Franken had to be absolutely perfect," he continues while posing in an armchair near a large globe in a wooden parlor adorned with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln hanging above a fireplace.

The globe, Franken explains, signifies "the global reach of such a giant," while the fireplace is meant to express "the fact that I could get an office with a fireplace."

Finally, once the photo was taken, Franken explains that he brought in a "master artist" to paint over it, replacing his hand, "battered by decades of combat," with a "more fitting hand" and, finally, add the title and point out "that I'm a NewYorkTimes best-selling author."